Pucker Up And Smile

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You can’t get a perfect smile overnight. Fortunately, there’s a lot more to a photogenic smile than straight, white teeth. So don’t be shy! Try these tricks the next time you smile for the camera.

Take it Easy

It’s hard to look natural when you’re posing for photos. Forced smiles don’t look good on anyone, no matter how perfect their teeth are. If you can’t muster a natural smile, try to relax and smile gently instead of flashing a fake grin. Open your mouth slightly, squint your eyes just a bit, and keep your neck muscles relaxed. This subtle look often translates better to photos than an unnaturally exuberant smile.

Turn to the Side

People often joke about capturing their “good side” in photos. Truth is, most portraits look better when the subject turns their head to the side and looks at the camera from a 30-degree angle. This results in more defined cheeks and jawline, and it helps to make a put-on smile look more natural. You may find you have a more photogenic side after all!

Sit Up Straight

Posture is another big factor in photogenic smiles. While the camera may not be capturing your body, your posture shows through your expression. Standing or sitting up straight, with your head held high and your shoulders back, will make you look confident and help avoid the dreaded ‘double-chin’ look.

The Tongue Trick

This is an odd one, but models swear by it. For a closed-mouth smile, try pressing your tongue to the back of the roof of your mouth. Doing so tightens the muscles in your face and neck, giving your face more definition and helping to create a natural-looking smile.

Open and Close Your Eyes

Ever feel awkward about being in front of the camera? Try shutting your eyes a few seconds before taking the picture. Open them slowly, and slowly draw the corners of your mouth to a smile. While this won’t erase the awkwardness entirely, it can ‘reset’ it somewhat and give you a fresh look for the photo.

Look Up

Back in the day, this is what people called the “MySpace Angle.” Now, it’s better known as the Selfie Angle. But as much as people catch flack for it, most portraits (not just selfies) turn out better when the camera is positioned slightly above the subject’s eye-level. Looking up at the camera softens features and eliminate lines in the neck.